Airlines to join campaign against Novel Coronavirus

Hong Kong will step up preventive measures against deadly new disease.

The government will improve measures against suspected cases of severe respiratory disease associated with the Novel Coronavirus, said Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man. Among these measures is a warning alert for inbound flights from affected areas.

Dr Ko said such an alert would remind air crew and passengers that they should report fever or upper respiratory tract symptoms to flight crew members and port health staff.

He said there has been a total of 14 confirmed cases worldwide of infection with the new Novel Coronavirus that causes severe respiratory disease. There is also evidence of human-to-human transmission in the most recent cluster of cases in the United Kingdom

He urged people to adopt stringent public and personal hygiene measures.

“Whenever you are travelling outside Hong Kong, do not get into contact with wild animals, wild birds and poultry. If you get upper respiratory tract symptoms and fever within certain days after you returned to Hong Kong, please take personal protection measures and see a doctor."

He urged people not to eat wild birds or animals when they are abroad.

He said Hong Kong is now in the transition from winter to spring, which is also the peak period for seasonal flu and other upper respiratory tract illnesses.

Dr Ko added that SARS hit Hong Kong this time 10 years ago, and Hong Kong residents should not forget its lessons.